Interviews

With a career record of 657-124-61 and two Division III national championships, Jay Martin is the winningest men’s soccer coach in the NCAA. His team plays home games at the Jay Martin Soccer Complex, but in soccer, he says, the coach’s job is to stay out of the way.

Coppin State University men’s basketball coach Michael Grant has been coaching college for 32 years – long enough to know his relationships with players don’t end when the buzzer sounds. This spring, after the West Baltimore neighborhood surrounding Coppin State erupted in racially charged violence following the funeral of a 25-year-old black man who died in police custody, Grant became more than a coach – and his players and other Coppin State student-athletes became something more, too.

Building up a brand is nothing new to American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco. The AAC will enter its third year this fall, and Aresco believes the league, which was created amid all the moves in conference realignment, is on pace to hit its stride.

I remember every bit of the injury. I was completely conscious, completely with it, so every single thing that happened, I remember like it was yesterday. It was eight weeks into my freshman year at Luther College. I remember wanting to kick off in the third quarter. I wanted to make a play. It was just a freak accident: When I dove across to make a tackle, the ball carrier’s knee struck my neck, and I just was lying there.